PHILADELPHIA — Fresh off Monday’s game and a flight that landed here early Tuesday, one would figure that 76ers coach Brett Brown would go easy on his guys. Uhh … it didn’t exactly work out that way.

The Sixers instead ended Tuesday’s session at PCOM with 20 minutes of a vigorous, half-court drill and a zone defense intended to protect the paint.

“It wasn’t a zone,” Brown said.

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So what was it?

“We were trying to play like a zone. We were trying to clog up the middle,” Brown continued. “Just trying to play the paint and get out on shooters. It’s something — over the years, you always respect the 3-point line. We’ve tried to put an emphasis on protecting the rim. We’re not a big team.”

The Sixers’ lack of bigs is news to no one, which is why Brown and his staff will be implementing variations of defenses designed to inhibit the opposition on the glass.

One (literally) big reason for optimism, when it comes to rebounding has been free-agent signee Daniel Orton. What was Oklahoma City’s loss is the Sixers’ gain, as Orton, who was plucked from the NBA’s waiver heap only seven days ago, already has paid dividends for the Sixers in the rebound department. The 6-10 center had 10 rebounds in 21 minutes of action Monday, in the Sixers’ 104-93 loss to Cleveland.

“I think it was last year when I got with (Tulsa 66ers coach) Darko Rajakovic in the D-League and he told me, ‘If you can get a rebound every two to three minutes, that’s what we’re looking for,’” Orton said.

“And I think that’s what I did last night.”

It’s almost a lock that Orton, barring injury, will make the Sixers’ roster. His superb play and their need at his position have tied Brown’s hands. Furthermore, Orton already has gotten into Brown’s good graces by dropping nine pounds since he was dropped in the Sixers’ laps a week ago.

Brown’s only cut on Orton has been his reluctance to stay in the paint.

“We want to get (Orton) more of a post disposition, where he gets it inside and likes getting to the free throw line and likes to go dunk on people,” Brown said, “and not cruising out of the lane or to the top of the key and just shooting long jumpshots. That’s not what this team needs.

“I think he should look at this environment and be excited, like there’s a legitimate chance for somebody to see me and be seen and maybe find a home here in Philadelphia.

While Orton is zeroing in on a roster spot, the same can’t be said for a majority of the players on Brown’s preseason roster. The first-year coach won’t have many easy decisions to make in the next week, as final cuts have to be made.

“We’ve given our young guys fair opportunities to be seen,” Brown said. “You owe it to them, you owe it to the organization. Everybody knows we’re trying to find talent, grow it into something special. I feel like our preseason has afforded us the opportunity to look at a lot of different people and now it’s just becoming a more-narrow lens on how you approach this last game.

“There are some legitimate spots available.”

Undrafted guard-forward Rodney Williams, who played in the loss to the Cavaliers, didn’t do himself any favors in his exhibition debut by going scoreless in 19 minutes. The battle has not ended between fellow rookies Vander Blue and Khalif Wyatt, who are believed to be vying for the same roster spot.

Guys who are trying to leave a good impression on Brown before the final roster has to be established are even sticking around PCOM following the end of practice. Tuesday, forwards Mac Koshwal and Hollis Thompson, guard Darius Morris and Orton were the stragglers who were jacking up shots more than 30 minutes after practice had concluded.

Veteran Thaddeus Young, who also hung around to work on his 3-point shooting, saw that as a good sign.

“Any time you can get work or get practice in, it definitely helps out a lot,” Young said. “The guys for the most part have been good about getting work in.”